(Two days later...)

I woke up with a stifled grumble not because I had slept like shit, but because my wife had held me in a viselike grip for the entire night. I don't blame her for being happy we're all back home. I just wish she wouldn't crush my ribcage...

Another thirty minutes passed before I finally attempted to wake Alannah up. "Mijn sintel...please ease up on your grip a little...."

"Mmm...Why?" she inquired, her voice groggy with sleep.

"I can't...breathe..."

"Oh...my bad," she murmured, loosing her grip on my torso, "Hope I didn't break anything..."

"You didn't. You were just holding onto me really tight," I responded, turning to regard her, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah...still coming down from the pure chaos that was our last hunt."

"That's understandable," I began, wrapping Alannah in my embrace, "We...had a lot of close calls, didn't we?"

"That's what's giving me mild panic attacks," she muttered, "May also be the hormones talking, but I almost flew off the rails when I heard Sal'kahnak had a god damn sword at your throat."

"Vik was there to make sure I wasn't hurt."

"Be that as it may, you were still close to dying, and I am not okay with that."

"I know...Unfortunately, we can't be spared from those risks, love. We're bounty hunters-our targets aren't going to take pity on us if they learn we're married. If anything, they'd try to abuse that knowledge in order to survive."

"Yeah...can't argue with that..." Alannah breathed, resting her head in the crook of my neck, "I just wish it didn't have to be like that...I know I've said this before, but I really wish we can be done with all of this..."

"I want that too, love," I replied, placing a soft kiss on her lips, "We're getting close to ending this-Jackson told me yesterday he's been working with the other leaders and officials to come up with a plan to put down the UTF once and for all."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. He wants the Federation to burn as well, so he's been working his ass off to see that dream come to fruition. He wanted to talk to us later today, so I'm sure he'll catch us up on his grand plan."

Alannah loosed a wispy sign and returned my kiss. "Sounds like a riot to me."

I chuckled and closed my eyes, savoring this moment. "If you don't wanna get outta bed, don't worry about it."

"But Jackson..."

"Jackson can wait. You've been pushing yourself too hard, mijn sintel. All this stress and anxiety cannot be good for our child."

"...Yep, you got me there."

With a huffed chuckle, I placed a kiss on Alannah's brow. "Stay in bed. I'll fetch you breakfast."

"Hey, there's no need to do tha-."

Before either of us could say anything, Vik appeared with two trays in his hands.

"I thought these would be appreciated," he began, a small grin playing with the corners of his mouth.

"Ah, I almost thought I was dreaming for a second there," Alannah mused while I stood up long enough to accept the trays of food, "I'm still not used to seeing you in that form."

"Neither am I," Ki'aras chimed in, manifesting in my room. Her form still appeared unstable, but I had to applaud her for making an effort, "When did you learn this ability, Vi'karac?"

"Ando'medara taught me how to assume a humanoid form so I could blend in. More importantly, I used this form to hide from Sal'kahnak's spies," Vik explained, "If you would like for me to show you how to change forms, I will happily teach you."

She nodded in response. "When I am stronger, I would love for you to teach me."

Alannah cast a knowing look my way, and I rolled my eyes in response.

Think Vik will ask you how genitalia work after he teaches Ki'aras how to change forms?

Wouldn't doubt it...

"Do not forget I am linked to both of you," he stated in a flat tone, although I could see the faintest of blushes on his cheeks... "You both are extremely devious human beings."

"Don't you know it, toots!" Alannah chirped, only to squeal with joy when I set one of the trays before her.

While my wife wolfed down her food, Ki'aras chuckled to herself. "Well...I must excuse myself."

She disappeared without any further explanation, to which Vik sighed to himself.

"This is why I cannot have nice things..." he grumbled, disappearing as well.

With a nervous titter, I turned to look at Alannah as she continued to demolish the plate full of bacon, eggs, sausage, and other goodies.

"Don't you think we went a little too far?" I prompted my wife.

"Not at all!" she exclaimed, sending pieces of egg flying out of her mouth.

I groaned, hiding my face in shame. "Damn it Ali..."

"Hey, eat your food before it gets cold," she chided me, "Don't let perfectly good food go to waste."

"Yes ma'am..."

And so I quickly cleaned my plate before Alannah could tease me any further. She did, of course, and I was hard-pressed to not blush like a god damn fool. I've been married to this woman for several months now. How am I not used to this by now?

"Oh, you'll never get used to this," she purred, pressing herself against my side, "I know how to press all of your buttons."

As if the playing field couldn't be tilted anymore against my favor, Alannah's shirt was pulled down-not by a lot, mind you, but enough to where I got...an eyeful.

Deciding I was tired of being teased, I carefully moved the trays out of the way before taking charge of the situation: In one graceful motion, I planted my lips onto Alannah's and did the ole' eyebrow wiggle when she looked back at me in surprise.

"You...cocky bastard," she panted when she broke away momentarily.

"I don't hear you complaining," I pointed out, casually tossing my shirt aside.

In response, Alannah threw her shirt at me. By the time I got that off, her bra landed on my head.

"Damn woman, are you a sharpshooter or something?" I griped, flinging the undergarment out of the way. I was going to say something else, but the rational side of my brain went into witness protection the instant Alannah's lips crashed into mine. Upon seeing my wife wiggle her eyebrows at me in response, I rolled my eyes.

"Is that a challenge?" I murmured when I managed to come up for air.

"Don't you know it, love," she purred, straddling my lap as she trailed kisses along my jaw.

"You know you're pregnant, right?" I prompted her in a light voice.

"Yeah. And? We'll be careful. Not like I can get double-pregnant."

Rolling my eyes once again, I stood up with Alannah in my arms.

She squeaked in surprise, only to glare at me. "Hey, not fair!"

I shrugged and laid her down on our bed. "You wanted a challenge, and I am always up for a good challenge."

the fire in her flawless eyes burned brighter as I kicked my underwear off. "Go ahead, hotshot. Make my day."

- - -

(Four hours later...)

"My, aren't you up late," my son mused once I had finally managed to get out of bed, "Any reason for that?"

Oh, you know: I was just getting comfy with your mother. "No reason at all-don't get any ideas."

"Uh huh, suuure. You totally didn't bone my mum."

I couldn't help but cringe in response. "You really have no filter, do you?"

"I have you and Boreas to thank for that," he responded with a shit-eating grin on his face, "At any rate, I'm glad you and mom are able to chillax-even if it involves some bedroom antics."

I couldn't stop the groan from escaping me. "Did you hear?"

"The moans? No. The faint creaking? Yes. Luckily for you, I was already awake and cleaning out my gun when the creaks and bumps started."

"Ah...shit..."

"Hey, it's all good. I mean, it's mortifying to know my sweet parents are doing the horizontal mambo, but I can't blame you guys. We've been through...a lot. We all have different ways to let off a little steam, so to each their own, I guess."

Noticing how jittery Alex appeared to be, I cocked an eyebrow in response. "You good, son?"

"Yeah...just trying to iron out some shit."

"What kinda shit are we talking about?"

"Err, well, not shit per se. It's just...I dunno," he breathed, facepalming in response, "God damn, I'm a rambly mess. To put it simply, I'm trying to figure out how I feel about something."

"Something, or someone?"

"...Someone."

"Ah," I replied, understanding his pain all-too-well, "Someone on our crew?"

"Who else would it be, you smug asshole?"

"You got me there. Are we talking about a certain girl around your age-maybe with silver and purple eyes?"

"Yes! We're talking about Raina!" he snapped, a crimson blush apparent on his face, "I know I sound weird and creepy, but part of me does...kinda sorta like her-as a friend, at the very least! Don't get any ideas in that fucked up head of yours!"

I held my hands up in a sign of surrender. "I wasn't going to say anything, Alex."

Alex glared at me before looking away with a sigh. "Right...sorry. I dunno man, is it weird I want to learn more about her and...you know, be her friend?"

"There's nothing weird about that, son," I assured him, "Keep in mind Raina's been through...a lot-probably more than anyone should ever have to deal with. If you do develop feelings for her, good for you. I'm not trying to mock or make fun of you-all I'm trying to say is take things one step at a time. Who knows? Maybe she likes you too?"

"Who likes you?" a certain heterochromatic youth chimed in, popping up seemingly out of nowhere.

Unfortunately-albeit predictably, all color drained from my son's face, and he could only manage to squawk before he found his voice.

"E-Ehm, my mum! Y-Y'know, my dad and I are aaaalways competing for her favor! It's steep competition-lemme tell ya."

"You just try to butter your mum up so she'll go easy on you during training," I interjected.

"Yeah, of course I do. It's terrifying seeing her lay your ass flat, so I'd rather avoid that."

"Hasn't seemed to stop her from sending you flying, now has it?"

"Hey, fuck you! At least I can win a few of our matches together!"

"Yes, a few. When you don't decide to be cocky, you can be quite the slippery bastard."

Alex fumed like a volcano, but relaxed when he heard Raina laughing.

"Think our feuds are funny, eh?" he inquired.

"Y-Yes, they most certainly are humorous," she confirmed, wiping a few tears out of her eyes, "I-If you would like, we could practice sparing later today-w-without all the flying and laying asses flat, of course."

A small grin appeared on Alex's face. "I'd love that."

I saw the development going on before me and chuckled to myself.

"They are most certainly smitten over one another," Vi'karac weighed in, "The question is when will they admit this aloud?"

Brilliant question. Give it a few years.

"A few years? Why?"

Alex is the definition of stubbornness. He has a habit of denying the obvious.

"Oh, how unfortunate..."